Zamora, Spain

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Zamora is a city in Castile-Leon, Spain, the capital of the province of Zamora. It lies on a rocky hill in the northwest, near the frontier with Portugal and crossed by the Duero river, which some 50km/30mi downstream reaches the Portuguese frontier. With its numerous Romanesque churches of the 12th and 13th centuries it has been called a "museum of Romanesque art".

Zamora is a richly diverse province, one of Spain's best kept secrets still awaiting discovery by the masses. Zamora town and province are filled with history and charm.

1 Origins
2 History
3 Population
4 Notable locals
5 Tourism in Zamora
6 Zamora cuisine
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Origins

Zamora was originally a Moorish foundation, and during the fighting between Christians and Moors it was the scene of many fierce engagements, reflected in the Spanish national epic, the "Cantar de mio Cid".

The name Zamora comes from the Gothic "Semura"^{[citation needed]} or from the Arab "Azemur" and "Semurah". The foundation of the city, however, was by Rome, with the name of Occelum Durii or Ocellodurum (the Duero Eye), in the days when the local hero Viriathus fought the Roman invasion. At Roman conquest, it was in the hands of the Vaccaei, and was incorporated into the Roman province of Hispania Tarraconensis. It was on the road from Emerita (modern Mérida) to Asturica Augusta (modern Astorga). (Ant. Itin. pp. 434, 439).

During the Medieval Age, Zamora was taken by the Arabs and by the Christians successively (from the Arab invasions in the early years of the 8th century to the last years of the 11th), and it was fortified.

Henry IV granted Zamora the epithet of "most noble and most loyal city".

[edit] History

The most important historic episode took place when the city gained an extraordinary relevance after the death of Ferdinand I of Castile who called it the "well fortified city of Zamora" (or "la bien cercada" in Spanish) and bequeathed it to his daughter Doña Urraca. Her brother Sancho II of Castile trying to reunify the kingdom against his siblings, lay siege to Zamora, which was the possession of his sister Urraca. King Sancho II was treacherously murdered by Bellido Dolfos while besieging the town, causing Castile to fall to his brother Alfonso. The event was commemorated by the Portillo de la Traición (Treason Gate). Zamora was also the scene of fierce fighting in the 15th century, during the conflict between the supporters of Isabella the Catholic and Juana la Beltraneja.

Zamora and river Duero

During the 12th century, the city was extraordinarily important for its strategic position in the wars between Christians and Arabs to conquer the Iberian Peninsula. As a result, the city preserves many churches and buildings from that time. In the next centuries, the city lost its political and economic relevance and suffered emigration, especially to South America (who founded many other cities called Zamora).

[edit] Population

It has about 67,164 inhabitants, a number which is decreasing due to lack of investment in the region.

[edit] Notable locals

Leopoldo Alas y Ureña, also known as "Clarín" was a Spanish novelist born in Zamora. A street in Zamora is named after him.
Angel Nieto: multi-time (or '12+1' as he puts it himself) Grand Prix motorcycle roadracing World Champion. He is considered a national hero in his Spanish homeland. The local sports centre is named after him. Some sources mistakenly refer to him as being born in Madrid.
Agustín Remesal: Journalist working as a TVE correspondent. Also writer.
Ramón Álvarez: Born in Zamora. Author of many of the figures or 'pasos' carried through its streets during the Holy Week.
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid Campeador. The legendary nobleman, though born in Burgos, spent some time in the town at the service of king Sancho II of Castile.

[edit] Tourism in Zamora

Main article: Places of interest in Zamora

Tourist office details:

Calle Santa Clara, 20 - bajo - 49014 Zamora (Zamora) Tel. +34 980531845 Fax +34 980533813

email: oficinadeturismodezamora@jcyl.es

Zamora town

Night view of the Roman bridge over the Duero

Cathedral of Zamora, Spain: Romanesque dating back to the 12th century, taking only 23 years to build.
Castle of Zamora, Spain: Built in the Middle Ages, offering magnificent views of the city.
Parador de Zamora: The Palacio de los Condes de Alba y Aliste was built in 1459 by the first count of Alba y Aliste. Boasts a magnificent patio and staircase decorated with lombardy carvings.
Calle Balborraz: Europa Nostra Prize.
Magdalena church: The southern facade is Romanesque dating back to the 13th century;
San Claudio de Olivares church (12th century carvings on the columns);
San Juan de Puerta Nueva church (12th century stained glass circular window, symbol of Zamora);
Santa María la Nueva church (12th century, baptism chapel dating back to the 13th century).
Santiago de los Caballeros church (12th century, simple Romanesque style)
Santiago El Burgo church (Southern facade, 12th century Romanesque)
City wall: three walled enclosures dating back to the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries.
Museo de Semana Santa de Zamora: Opposite the Santa María la Nueva church, devoted to the Semana Santa de Zamora processions which are celebrated with particular ceremony in Zamora. The museum displays a large collection of pasos, the figures which are carried in procession through the streets by various 'cofradías' or brotherhoods.

Church of San Juan de Puerta Nueva

Zamora surroundings

Arcenillas church (15th century panels)
Hiniesta church (gothic, sculptures and murals)
San Pedro de la Nave church (El Campillo village - 12 km away) 12th century. One of the three best kept visigothic churches in all of Spain. Was moved stone by stone due to the construction of a reservoir on its original site.

Zamora province

Benavente: About 65 kms north from the capital. Santa María church and Castle of La Mota (now the Parador of Benavente). The parador 'Fernando II de Leon' as it is called occupies the castle- palace built in the 12th century and is part of the former walled enclosure of the town. It was named to honour Ferdinand II as the founder of the town.

Toro, Zamora (just 34km from Zamora on the motorway). Historic and Artistic centre, churches, palaces, monasteries... with monuments such as the facade of the 'Palacio de las Leyes' and also the famous Santa María la Mayor collegiate church (known in Spanish as 'La Colegiata'). Its wines were the first to be taken to America by Christopher Columbus.

Sanabria: on the border with Galicia. Declared a Historic and Artistic centre and set within the countryside near the Sanabria lake. There are a number of attractive bed and breakfast places to stay in (known in Spain as 'Casas Rurales') and also the Sanabria Parador.

Fermoselle: on the border with Portugal and on the edge of the Arribes Natural Park 'Los Arribes del Duero': an attractive place with less than 100 inhabitants where a traditional way of life still exists. Try the beef (locally reared), goat´s cheese, cold meats...a place to stay is the Sayago Parador. The Arribes feature a hunting reserve in the Culebra mountain range (with the highest population of wolves in the whole of Europe). Accessible for visit either travelling by land or on the river by taking a boat excursion from Miranda do Douro lasting about an hour).

Villafáfila: The lakes, in ancient times beaches, still retain the sand and fossils. An authentic paradise for European birds. The second largest water reserve in Spain after Doñana.

[edit] Zamora cuisine

The excellent raw materials used in cuisine from this province really stand out. The pulses, the famous chickpeas from Fuentesauco or 'garbanzos', the exquisite cheese made from sheep´s milk, honey from Sanabria, asparagus from Guareña, peppers from Benavente, steak from Aliste, mushrooms, game, cold meats, cakes and sweets... Apart from the tasty roasts, also worth tasting are the rice dishes from Zamora and the Toro wines (very dark, almost black, nowadays made using modern techniques - with a rapidly growing reputation for their taste and quality). Traditional dishes include bacalao a la tranca (a cod dish), el pulpo a la sanabresa (an octopus dish), dos y pingada (two fried eggs with fried ham, usually served in Easter) and '"presas de ternera" (a veal dish). For dessert there is the rebojo Zamorano, a very tasty though hard type of bun, and "las natillas almendradas" (Spanish style custard with almonds).